Ironing-machine-driving mechanism



May l5, 1928. 1,669,607

H. D. ELSE IRoNINe MACHINE DRIVING MEcHANIsM Filed Apr-II 24, 1925 "5 sheets-sheet, 1

w|TNEssEs= lNvENToR May 15, 1928. 1,669,607

H. D. ELSE IRONING MACHINE DRIVING MECHANISM Filed April 24, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 'J1 Il Y A WITNESSES: A INVENTOR Harry [/Se BY www@ May 15, 192s. 1,66,6o7

H. D. ELSE IRONING MACHINE DRIVING MECHANISM Filed April 24, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WITNESSES: A l INVENTOR l ATTORNEY May 15, 1928. 1,669,607

H. D.- ELsE IRON-ING MACHINE DRIVING MECHANISM Filed April 24, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 wlTNEssl-:s: y INVENTOR /z/f MJ Har/y D. [/se May 15, 1928. `1,669,607

H. D. ELSE IRONING MACHINE DRIVING MECHANISM Filed 'April 24, 1925 5 sheets-sheet 5 wnNEssEs: v |NvENToR ,f MJ #ar/y D. f/Se m WIJ@ ATTORNEY Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES y 1,669,667 PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY D. ELSE, F CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, .A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.-

IBONING-MACHINE-DBIVING Y Application filed April 24, 1925. aerial)r No. 25,551..

My invention relates to ironing machines, and it has a special relation to power mechanisms for moving ironing elements.

An object of my invention is to provide a powermoved ironing element adapted to engage a stationary roll for producing a pressing action, as distinguished from an ironing function.

Another object of my invention is to provide a power mechanism which will move one ironing member into engagement with another and will rotate one of the members but is disconnectible from the rotatable member and is connectible thereto for the continuous rotation thereof, independently gi any other movement of either of the mem- A further object of my invention is to provide a power mechanism which will move one ironing member into engagement with another and initiate the rotation of one' of i the members in correspondence to the engaging motion but which .is permanently connectible to the rotatable member for producing continuous rotation and is permanently disconnectible therefrom.

A still further object of my invention is -to provide an especially simple power mechanism for rotating an ironing element and moving oneironing element towards another.

Referring. to the drawing,

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a ma chine embodying my invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are-sectional views of the machine of Fig. 1, shown in different conditions of operation;

Fig. 5 is a detail View of a star wheel and associated parts;y y

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detail views of parts of a`release mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of a clutch and cooperating parts; and

Fig. 10 is a detail view of a spring and cooperating parts.

m shoe 1, a roll 2 and a motor 3 are features of a machine embodying my invention. For the shoe 1, however, a heated ironing roll may be substituted, if desired.

yThe motor 3 is supported by a board 4, which is secured, at its ends, to standards 5 and 6, on which the roll 2 is mounted for rotation. o

The shoe 1 is supported, at one end,by la lever 7, which is pivoted 'on arod 8 extendf 55 ing from the standard 5 to the standard I n 6 nl secured to a bracket 10 on the standar f The eye 11 of'a bolt 12 is removably secured to a pin 13 on the lower end of the 1ever 7. The bolt 12 has nuts 14 thereon 00 adapted to engage caps15 and 16, respectively, which grip a spring 17. A bolt 18, of U-shape, extends longitudinally of the spring V17 and has nuts 20 at one end and nuts'22 at the other end for engaging the caps 15 and 16, respectively. The U-bolt 18 is secured to an arm 23, which is pivoted on the rod 8. One end of a tensionspring 24 is secured to the arm 23 and its other end is secured to the board 4, and a bumper 25 on the board 4 is opposed to the arm 23.

' WVith the exception of .rod 8 and board 4, the parts that were described as being located at one end of the shoe 1 are duplicated at its other end, as is apparent from Fig. 1.

A bar 27 extends from the arm 23 to its corresponding arm, and a latch 28 is pivoted thereon. The end of the latch 28 has a recess 30 therein that is adapted to receive a retainer 31 carried by a bracket 32 which is secured to the board 4.

The latch 28 is urged downwardly by a spring 33 which is secured to the same and also engages an arm 34 for acting upwardly thereon. A finger '35' on the latch 28 is adapted'to engage a finger 36 on the arm 34.

VA guide 37 (Fig. 6) slidably receives a. rod 38 which is engageable with the latch 28 and has a lateral extension 40 thereon that is engageable with the arm 34.

The rod 38 is secured for slight angular movement to a lever 41 that is pivoted at 42 and has a pedal 43 thereon.

The motor 3 is connected, by reduction mechanism (not shown) in a case 44, to a 95 shaft 45 which is journaled in the bracket 32. A star wheel 46 is mounted on the shaft 45 and has a plurality of arms 47 thereon for engagement with the end of the arm 34.

The shaft 45 is received, at its end, in a 100 bearing 48 lon the standard 6 and has a sprocket 50 freely mounted thereon and connected by a chain 51 to an upper sprocket 52 rigid with the roll 2, i

A clutch member 53l is rigid with the 105 sprocket 50 and `,is adapted to co-operate with a clutch member 54 keyed to the shaft 45 and slidable thereon by an arm 55.

The arm 55 is supported by a rod 56 mounted for rotation in an upper bracket 111) 57 and a lower bracket 58. The rod 56, the arm and an additional arm 59 on the rod 56 constitute substantially a bell-crank lever. The arm 59 has an opening therein receiving a link 60 and is engaged by a pair of oppositely acting springs 61. The link 60 extends through an opening .'62 in the arm 23 and is detachably secured to the arm 23 by a pin 63 which is removable. to permit the link 60 to be detached.

Fig. 2 illustrates the condition of operation when the shoe 1 is in outer position, and the pedal 43 is depressed by the operator. At this time, the spring 24 holds the arm 23 against the bumper 25, and the spring 1.7 prevents the forward movement of the shoe l under the action of gravity. The clutch members 53 and 54 are then disengaged and the roll 2 is stationary. The star wheel 46 is being driven by the motor 3, but, as the rod 38 is in upper position and in engagement with thetrigger 28, the arm 34 is also in elevated position, and the arms 47 of the star wheel 46 are incapable of engaging the arm 34.

When the pedal 43 is permitted t-o rise and the rod 38 is lowered, the trigger 28 descends and lightly engages the retainer 3l. The arm 34 is also moved downwardly because of the engagement of the fingers 35 and 36. The arm 34 is then disposed in the path of travel of the arms 47 of the star wheel 46, and an arm 47 will engage the end of the arm 34 and cause a rearward movement thereof, a slight relative movement of the arm 47 and the arm 34 occurring and being permitted by the dished shape of the end of the arm 34. As the arm 34 moves rearwardly, the arm 23 is moved in the same direction and acts, through the medium of the spring 17, to move the lever 7 and push the shoe 1v forwardly into engagement with the roll 2. After the engagement of the roll 2 by the shoe l, a further movement of the arm 23 compresses the spring 17 and applies shoe pressure. I

When the recess 30 of the latch 28 reaches the edge of the retainer 31, the latch isV in Fig. 4. The arm- 34 is then moved upwardly by the spring- 33 until the linger 36 engagesthe finger 35, as shown in full lines 1n Fi 4. In this position, the arm 34 is out o the path of travel of the star wheel 46.

While the arm 23 is moving` backwardly and the shoe 1 is moving forwardly, the link 60 (Fig. 9) is moving rearwardly and the arms 59 and 55 are moved to cause the clutch member 54 to engage the clutch member 53. At the time of engagement "of the members, the sprocket 50 is put in motion and drives the roll 2 by means of the chain 5l and the sprocket 52.

When it is desired to release'the slice, the pedal 43 is depressed. rThis raises the rod 38 and causes it to engage the latch 28 which is lifted above the retainer 31. The spring 17 is then free to expand. The shoe 1 is moved rearwardly and the arm 23 travels forwardly under the urge of the spring 24 and engages the bumper 25 which exercises a cushioning action.

As the arm moves forwardly, the link 60 and the arms 59 and 55 are moved, and' the clutch member 54 is disengaged from the clutch member 53. The rotation of the roll 2 then ceases and the roll is free to be moved manually in either of two directions, a feature which makes for convenience of operation.

After the engagement of an arm 47 of the star wheel 46 with the arm 34, as shown in Fig. 3, and before the position shown in Fig. 4 is reached, the operator may desire to discontinue the forward movement of the shoe 1. This isdone by depressing the pedal 43 which raises the rod 38 and brings the extension 40 into engagement with the lower face of the arm 34. The arm 34 is thus moved upwardly and is disengaged from the arm 47, and the shoe l is moved backwardly, in a manner which is obvious from the foregoing description.

Tlie shape of the lower face of the arm 34 is such that, as the arm 34 is moved rearwardlylby the star wheel 46, the lowermost point of the arm 34 is always immediately adjacent to the extension 40. When, therefore, during the rearward movement of the arm 34, the operator depresses the pedal 43, it travels a fixed and predetermined distance to release the arm 34 from the star wheel 46. Whether the release is effected by the upper end of the rod 38 engaging the latch 28 or the extension 40 engaging the arm 34, the movement of the foot of theV operator is always the same.

The described disconnection of the link 60 from the arm 23 may be made either when the clutch member 54 engages the clutch member 53 or when it is out of engagement. In the for- `mer case, a permanent drive of the roll 2 by the chain 51 obtains. In the latter case, the chain 5l does not operate and the roll 2 remains. stationary, irrespective of the move-- the embodiment illustrated and described,

whichmay be extensively` modified. For instance, the arms 47 may be varied, in point of number and shape, and a. belt drive for the roll may be substituted for the chain 51 without departingV from the r spirit of the invention. -A substantial range of equivalents is lcontemplated within the vscope of the appended claims.

I claim. asV my invention 1,. Ingan ironing machine, the combina- `'tion of a rotary member, a motor for rotat- \25 ing said member, an ironing roll driven by said motor, an ironing member. movable towards and from said roll,- means movable by said rotary member for moving said ironing member toward said roll, operator-operated means for releasing said movable means from said rotary member during the' movement of said ironing member towards said roll, whereby said movement may be terminated, and automatic means Gfor releasing said movable means from said rotary member when said ironing member is against said roll, and additional means operative on such automatic release for retaining said ironing member against said roll. a,

2. In an ironing machine, the combination of a rotary member, a motor for rotatingsaid member, an ironing roll driven by sai-d motor, an ironing member movable towards and from said roll, means movable by said rotary member for moving said ironing member towards said roll,"operatorop erated means for releasing said movable -means from said rotary member by an operator during the movement of sald ironing member towards said roll, whereby said movement is terminated, and automatic means for releasing said movable means from said rotary member when said ironing member is against said roll, additional means operative on such automatic release for retaining said ironing member against said roll, and releasable by an operator to permit movement of said ironing member awa-y from said roll, and means for automatically moving said ironing member away from said roll on the release of said additional means.

from the other, a'motor, -a rotary member .driven by vsaid motor, a fourth member adapted to be engaged by said rotary member, means operative on the engagement of said fourth member and said rotary member to move the movable ironing member against the other ironing member, additional means for locking said movable ironing member in position against said other ironing member, and a fifth member movable by an operator and having means operable when said fourth member and `said rotary member are engaged to rdisengage the lastmentioned two members, said fifth member having means operable when said additional means is in locking condition to release said additional means to permit movement of s aid movable ironing member away from A the other ironing member.

4. The combination of a pair of ironing 'i members, one of which is ivotally movable towards and away from t e other, a third memberv pivotally mounted and movable with the movable ironing member, a motor, a. rotary member driven by said motor and adapted )to engage said third member, a

fourth member pivotally mounted and movable with said movableironing member, a fixed retainer, means for disengaging said third member from said rotary member when said movable ironing member is movedagainst the other ironing member and means for causing said fourth member .to engage said retainer for maintaining said ironing members together after such disengagement of said third member.

5. The combination of a pair of ironing members, one of which is pivotallyvmovable towards and away from the other, a third member for moving the movable ironing member, a motor, a rotary member driven byA said motor and adapted to enga e said third member, means for automatica ly disengaging said third member from ,said .rotary member when said movable ironing member is moved against the other ironing member, and means operative on the disengagement of said third member from said rotary member to prevent the re-enga ement of said last-mentioned members whi e said movable ironing member lis against said other yironing member.

6. The combination of a pair of ironing members, one of which is pivotally movable towards and away from the other, a third member for moving said movable ironing member, a motor, a yrotary member driven by said motor and adapted to engage said third member, a fixed retainer, a fourth member connected to said movable ironing member to engage said retainer when Said movable ironing member is against the other ironing member for maintaining said Ironinfr members in engagement, means for ammiatically disengaging said third inemnov ber from said rotary member when said movable ironing member 1s moved against the other lromng member, and means operative on the disengagement of said third member from said rotary member to prevent the re-engagement of the last-mentioned two members while said movable ironing member is against said other ironing member.

7. The combination of .a pair of ironing members, one of which is pivotally movable towards and away from the other, a ,third member pivotally mounted and movable with said movable ironing member, a motor, a rotary member driven by said motor and adapted to engage said third member, a fourth member pivotally mounted and movable with said movable ironing member, a fixed retainer, means for disengaging said third member from said rotary member when said movable ironing member is moved against the other ironing 'member, and means` movable by an operator for disengaging said fourth member from said retainer.

S. In an ironing machine, the combination of a pair of ironing men'ibers, one movable into and out of engagement with the other, a movable third member, means operative on the movement of said third member in a predetermined direction to move the movable ironing member towards the other iron- `ing member, a motor, an element rotatable by said motor and adapted to engage said third member for moving the same and thereby moving said movable ironingr member against said other ironing member, and means for pushing said third member out of the path of travel of said element when said movable ironing member is engaged with said other ironing member.

9. In an ironing machine, the combination oi a pair of ironing members, one movable into and out of engagement with the other, a third member adapted to be moved, means operative on the movement of 4said third member in a predetermined direct-ion to move the movable ironing member towards the other ironing member, a motor, an element rotatable by said motor and adapted to engage said third member for moving the same and thereby moving said movable ironmg member agamst said other ironm member, and means for pushlng saxdthlr meniber out of the path of travel of said ele-` ymember when said element and said third member are disengaged.

10. In an ironing machine, the combinaion of a pair of ironing members, one movable into and out of engagement with the other, a third member adapted to be moved, means operative on the movement of said third member in a predetermined direction to move the movable ironing member towards the other ironing member, a motor, and an element rotatable by said motor and having a plurality of portions, each of which is adapted to engage said third member for moving the same and thereby moving said movable ironing member against said other ironing member, and means for pushing said third member out of the path of travel of said element. c'

11. In an ironing machine, the combination of an ironing member mounted for rotation, a second ironingr member mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the first-mentioned ironing member, a motor, means driven by said motor for rotating said first-mentioned ironing member, a third vmember adapted to -be moved, means operative onthe movement of said third member in a predetermined direction to move said second ironing member towards April, 1925.

. HARRY D. ELSE. 

